Monday, May 16, 2005

Homophobia, another reason to not like Mexico

According to a preliminary report by the Citizen Commission against hate crime, for every one homicide due to homophobia that is reported, another three go unreported. They estimate that there are 8 homocides a month or 97 a year in the country. The place with the highest number of such hate crimes in Mexico City, but I suspect this is a reflection of the size of the city and probably better reporting. The overwhelming majority of these crimes are against men, though women have been murdered as well.

So even though I regularly see gay couples holding hands in the park by my apartment while walking their dogs, it's clear that such permissive attitudes do not extend throughout the city or country.